Bob Iger sees 'nothing wrong' with simulcasting

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Walt Disney Co., which owns ABC and ESPN, may be moving closer to embracing simulcasting of programming on television and the Web.

Robert Iger, president and CEO of Disney
DIS, +0.03%
said Tuesday morning at a Newhouse School-Conde Nast gathering in New York that simulcasting was "probably something that will be done" and that he thought there was "nothing wrong" with the concept.

In other words: bet on it. Iger has made his mark at Disney by taking measured chances and betting on Disney's ability to do what it has always done, from its theme parks to its Mickey Mouse symbol: make the public happy. Iger is too smart and forward-thinking to worry about charging into a new business.

Iger, a forceful and effective speaker, told moderator Ken Auletta, a New Yorker media writer, that "one access point doesn't work" any longer when a media company is trying to reach a busy consumer who wants convenience and service and can afford to pay for it.

The catalyst for Iger's comments was a report in the New York Times
NYT, -1.25%
saying that CBS
CBS, +0.96%
may be considering the use of Time Warner's CNN
TWX, -28.57%
unit in its reporting.

-- Jon Friedman

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